Mike Richards, what happened?

[Montreal Shadow]

He used to be one of the best top-line centers in the league. Great defensively, leader and hard-worker. Was also pretty damn good at scoring points.

Now he's in the AHL? He's only 30. What happened? Injuries? Lack of confidence? Cannot find his place on the team?

How can this guy be an AHL'er?

The Shift

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[RJ8812*]

A combination of not taking care of himself off the ice and his overly physical play catching up to him

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

1) Played such a high intensity/physical game and didn't have the frame to play that style for long. Average joe body.

2) Didn't take care of himself in the off-season.

3) Concussions.

 

[Stephen]

Richards is at an age where a lot of guys started breaking down back in the 1980s and 1990s. Especially when you look at guys who were fairly physical, Wendel Clark wasn't very good beyond 28-29, Kirk Muller hit a brick wall at 30, etc.

 

[TheGuyInTheChair]

Uncoachable.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Really intense physical game for much of his career and age catching up to him slightly. His lack of speed is also making it harder for him to keep up with the pace of today's game.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

Not exactly much left to play for, combined with what the others are saying.

 

[Montreal Shadow]

I understand the physical play part but how can he go from a top-line center to an AHL player. Or was it simply the Kings sent him down to cut off some salary?

 

[KingsHockey24]

I understand the physical play part but how can he go from a top-line center to an AHL player. Or was it simply the Kings sent him down to cut off some salary?

He was invisible 90% of the games this season.

 

[ZeroPT*]

I understand the physical play part but how can he go from a top-line center to an AHL player. Or was it simply the Kings sent him down to cut off some salary?

He didn't keep himself in too good shape. That's crucial. Especially for his playing style. Girgensons plays a lot like Richards did in Philly. I hope he keeps himself in shape and is able to last longer.

 

[JT Kreider]

Callahan two years from now

 

[nhldiedinthe90s*]

Any decent press covering his unwillingness to keep himself in shape in the off season?

 

[RiellyGood]

parties wayyyyy too hard, thats what caught up to him

 

[DFC]

Richards is at an age where a lot of guys started breaking down back in the 1980s and 1990s. Especially when you look at guys who were fairly physical, Wendel Clark wasn't very good beyond 28-29, Kirk Muller hit a brick wall at 30, etc.

Gary Roberts talks about this a lot. There was a story about Steve Yzerman talking to Rick Nash about it, thus the change in Nash. Everything changes for a high level athlete at about thirty. Things you could get away with previously, you suddenly can't get away with. Which, way back in the day, resulted in a lot of guys declining severely in their late twenties and early thirties, sometimes retiring around then. Guys who excel in their thirties are usually taking very good care of themselves. There have always been rumors about Richards not exactly taking that part of the hockey life seriously. That, combined with his style, combined with the skillset he had to begin with, probably made for a very early and very sharp decline.

 

[amnesiac]

Heatley, Lecavalier, Semin.... they peak early, and trail off early

[MOD]

 

[ottawa]

Gary Roberts talks about this a lot. There was a story about Steve Yzerman talking to Rick Nash about it, thus the change in Nash. Everything changes for a high level athlete at about thirty. Things you could get away with previously, you suddenly can't get away with. Which, way back in the day, resulted in a lot of guys declining severely in their late twenties and early thirties, sometimes retiring around then. Guys who excel in their thirties are usually taking very good care of themselves. There have always been rumors about Richards not exactly taking that part of the hockey life seriously. That, combined with his style, combined with the skillset he had to begin with, probably made for a very early and very sharp decline.

Like MSL

 

[redcard]

I understand the physical play part but how can he go from a top-line center to an AHL player. Or was it simply the Kings sent him down to cut off some salary?

They're not saving any money having him down and Shore up, he's capable of playing in the NHL he just needs to seriously recommit himself as he's not going to last the duration of his contract at this point. Sutter never scratched him because he's still a useful player, but management decided they needed a shake up and next seasons salary structure is a bit of a concern, so they waived him to see if anyone would bite, and sent him down. He'll be back in the NHL, he just might have to get bought out first or traded to a team willing to sit with the cap hit for quite a few years. He has 8 points in 6 games in Manch for what its worth.

 

[DFC]

Like MSL

Chris Chelios might be the best example in modern times. He didn't even boycott the partying. But he trained like an animal regardless, probably still does, and was a very effective hockey player pretty deep into his forties.

But yeah, when we see guys who suddenly can't cut it at age 32/33, it reminds me of the 80s and early 90s when that was pretty much the norm. The bar has been raised these days.

 

[ottawa]

Chris Chelios might be the best example in modern times. He didn't even boycott the partying. But he trained like an animal regardless, probably still does, and was a very effective hockey player pretty deep into his forties.

But yeah, when we see guys who suddenly can't cut it at age 32/33, it reminds me of the 80s and early 90s when that was pretty much the norm. The bar has been raised these days.

You're right, Chelios is probably the best example. He wasn't great at the end of his career with the habs but by then he was too old and extended his stay in the NHL, but it's still a great example. Jagr is a great example in today's NHL too...I guess the game has slowly changed in a way where top line forwards can't be the most punishing players on their team aside from the select few who can handle both those jobs (Iginla-type players). I'm not too sure about off-ice/off-season diets though, didn't really think a few months away from hockey could have that big of an effect on people.

 

[Reclamation Project]

He was invisible 90% of the games this season.

Give me a break.

 

[kingsholygrail]

He's doing great in the AHL so hopefully he gets his game back comes back up. I doubt he'll stay down the rest of the season.

He's had a couple nasty concussions since joining the Kings and it's taken its toll. What got him sent down though was his defensive play fell apart this season unlike previous seasons.

 

[Mikos87]

He's had a lot of hard miles on him from his style of play. Was never a gifted athlete but he went hard... on and off the ice.. didn't take care of his body and the legs went away.

He's slower than the a lot of 4th line players these days.

 

[DFC]

You're right, Chelios is probably the best example. He wasn't great at the end of his career with the habs but by then he was too old and extended his stay in the NHL, but it's still a great example. Jagr is a great example in today's NHL too...I guess the game has slowly changed in a way where top line forwards can't be the most punishing players on their team aside from the select few who can handle both those jobs (Iginla-type players). I'm not too sure about off-ice/off-season diets though, didn't really think a few months away from hockey could have that big of an effect on people.

Seems like the most plausible explanation, since it was common-place in the 80s and early 90s for guys to retire at 32/33, and we all know those guys weren't really taking care of themselves. At least not at the level guys take care of themselves today. There were obvious exceptions for mega-elite talents who, even after slowing down, were able to rely on other parts of their skillset to dominate (Lemieux).

Normally though, when you hear about guys who prolong their careers, it's almost always the same story: they put the effort in in the gym. Gary Roberts, I guess, is probably an even better example of that than Chelios, and he really changed what people thought was possible for your non-elite player in his thirties.

But you rarely see steep Richards-type declines on guys with a pristine work ethic reputation, unless there are major injuries involved. The Kings even acknowledged that, prior to this year, Richards wasn't exactly in the best of shape. Hard not to connect those dots. It didn't help that Richards couldn't afford to lose a step.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Age, life-style and play-style

The guy has won almost everything he could have won

He had an amazing career that ended abruptly

The Shift is pretty amazing, always nice to see Montreal get humiliated like that, brings back some great memories

 

[MessierII]

A combination of factors IMO. His off ice lifestyle plus his on ice style combined with a ridiculous amount of games played over the past 5 years caused him to lose a step. Combine that with playing on low scoring team in a bottom 6 role and a big contract and voila.